TBX mid circuit boost

[smitty302]

Has anybody installed one of these on a Stratocaster? I actually met Buddy Guy the other night and got to talk to him and his backup guitarist Ric Jaz. I asked Buddy what is his favorite strat mod and he told me the TBX mid circuit boost. So me being a big BG fan I've got to try it. Now Ric Jaz has a really neat mod to his guitar. He showed me how he modified a Zakk Wylde overdrive pedal into his guitar. So he can turn it on no matter where he is. He also has the 3 pedal knobs on it, so he can change the overdrive gain, tone and volume while he's playing.

 

[dave74]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

That is very cool stuff.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

I love the TBX. It's actually a stacked pot, and wired up properly does not boost signal (no battery, after all). Turn the knob one way, and it cuts treble. Turn it the other way, and it cuts bass. Put it in the center detent position for a full range sound. Best thing - it's cheap, usually less than $15.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

I'm pretty sure Buddy's Strat has the mid-boost as well as the TBX control, like the Clapton Strat.

 

[jeremy]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

right. the fender mid boost circuit is actually two boosts. an always on preamp boost and an the adjustable mid boost. the tbx is a tone control that is part of the circuit in buddys strats. its a fun little setup

 

[smitty302]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

How hard is it to install?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

Not familiar with it, but from what Im reading, sounds like replacing a pot/control..

 

[Coma]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

I have one in a PRS-style guitar and I absolutely love it. You can get some very interesting tones out of the neck humbucker with it. Haven't found as much use for it in the bridge. Would honestly put it in more of my guitars if it wasn't for them already having spilitting pots in place.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

How hard is it to install?

It's pretty easy, there's a diagram with the kit. IIRC you get the board, TBX pot and a new jack socket. I still have mine wired up on a piece of laminated card ready to drop back in to my G&L Legacy should I want to use it again.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

If it were up to me, the midboost would have a mid boost and cut, kind of like what EBMM does with their active bass circuits. That and a modded TBX could do just about anything with a set of A5 singles.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

I have one in a PRS-style guitar and I absolutely love it. You can get some very interesting tones out of the neck humbucker with it. Haven't found as much use for it in the bridge. Would honestly put it in more of my guitars if it wasn't for them already having spilitting pots in place.

It's quite versatile. Joe Gore has the best video demo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMkpLM-6Jk0

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

Smitty, you’re referring to both the Clapton midboost and TBX combo, right?

TBX by itself is interesting, but usually I don’t need to cut bass on a Strat. It usually sat at flat or slight treble cut.

 

[jeremy]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

i dont actually care for the tbx tone control. when i was using the fender boost circuit i ran a normal tone control. the tbx is just a replacement pot. the boost is a circuit board about the size of a credit card, requires a battery, replacing a pot for the adjustable boost and a stereo jack. the kit comes with all the stuff you need other than the 9v

 

[smitty302]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

Smitty, you’re referring to both the Clapton midboost and TBX combo, right?

TBX by itself is interesting, but usually I don’t need to cut bass on a Strat. It usually sat at flat or slight treble cut.

Yeah I guess that's what it is. A friend of mine got me backstage the other night at a BG concert. I just briefly talked to BG, but he told me that was a mod he had on his guitar. I would've loved to talk to him for an hour about guitars, amps, settings etc. It didn't work out that way though. But I did talk to his rhythm guitarist for about 30 minutes.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

Since that’s basically a Clapton Strat, you can try it out at a store before you install.

You can apparently fit it if you squeeze it all in, but routing a bit to hold the PCB is a lot easier and cleaner.

 

[jeremy]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

mine is in a normal strat but i blocked the trem and put the pc board in the back under the cover

 

[dystrust]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

I love the TBX. It's actually a stacked pot, and wired up properly does not boost signal (no battery, after all). Turn the knob one way, and it cuts treble. Turn it the other way, and it cuts bass. Put it in the center detent position for a full range sound. Best thing - it's cheap, usually less than $15.

You can wire a TBX to do that and I have one in my 12-string Pacifica, but the stock wiring is different. You're correct that it cuts treble when turning the knob down below 5, but with the knob full up it's just a 1M tone pot.

 

[AxlOz]

Re: TBX mid circuit boost

I like the TBX tone control. It came standard in 90's era US standard strats, of which I have 2
One of the better 'standard' Fender wiring solutions IMO.